Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
He was not afraid of a vicious dog in broad daylight. He would go take a look first. Ah Wei stood up and bowed to Grandma Yang with a smile. âThank you, Grandma Yang. Iâm going back.â
Grandma Yang smiled and patted Ah Wei. âWhy are you being so polite to me?â After thinking about it, she reminded Ah Wei worriedly, âTian Zhongâs family was originally the servants of the Tian family. The entire family worked on the farm of the Tian family. Tian Zhongâs daughter is beautiful, and Master Tian took a fancy to her and took her as a concubine. Two years ago, she gave birth to a son for Master Tian and was very doted on. Master Tian released them from slavery and they settled down in our village. Tian Zhongâs wife, Madam Wang, is fierce and unreasonable. His two sons are tsk tsk tsk! Simply put, his family is as fierce as dogs. Donât provoke them.â
Ah Wei nodded with a smile. âGot it! Iâll go around and go back.â Ah Wei came out of Grandma Yangâs house and walked outside Tian Zhongâs courtyard. He saw that the courtyard wall of Tian Zhongâs house was more than six feet tall. He couldnât see the situation in the courtyard even if he tiptoed.
Ah Wei circled the courtyard and heard a few dogs barking. Ah Wei realized that Tian Zhongâs backyard was much larger than those of the others and thought to himself, It shouldnât be a problem to plant a hundred stalks of corn in this courtyard. Looking at the high courtyard wall and then at his small body, he thought to himself that he should go back and talk to Brother Ruyi and ask him to come to Tian Zhongâs house to check!
Ah Wei walked back hesitantly. Halfway there, he thought about it and was unwilling to go back just like that. He stood there and hesitated for a moment before turning around and walking towards Tian Zhongâs house.
When Ruyi arrived in the city and reached the government office, he remembered that Liu Yi had sent those children home. He found a bailiff who knew Liu Yiâs family and asked for Liu Hanminâs address. He went to Liu Hanminâs house and told him that the desk and chairs were ready. Liu Hanmin happily cupped his hands and thanked him. âThank you for making the trip, Chief Steward. Iâll pack my things now.â
âYouâre too polite.â It was inconvenient for Liu Hanmin to retreat. âMr. Liu, wait for me at the entrance of the government office. Iâll go get something to pick you up.â
Liu Hanmin hesitated for a moment. He smiled and cupped his hands. âThen I wonât stand on ceremony!â
Ruyi came out of the Liu familyâs house and went to the East City to find the Fenggu Food Bank on Thin Water Street. He saw that the Fenggu Food Bank had three wide doors and there were no customers in the shop. Ruyi walked in and the shop assistant standing at the door walked in. He looked at Ruyi and asked impatiently, âHow many catties of brown rice do you want?â
Ruyi smiled and stuffed a few copper coins into his hand. âBrother, I heard that your grain shop has a high-yielding rice seed that you have to come early to buy. Can I set it for next year now?â
The shop assistant looked at the copper coins in his hand and smiled. âBrother, I advise you to give up on this idea! Not to mention the rice seeds next year, there wonât be any in the year after next. You might as well go to those rich families and ask. Theyâll have high-yielding rice seeds to sell this year.â
Ruyi stuffed a few more copper coins into his hand and looked like he was fawning over him. âBrother, the Tian family in our village is selling rice seeds, but theyâre too expensive. There wonât be much of a margin left after planting them.â
The shop assistant looked at the copper coins in his hand and smiled proudly. âOn account of the fact that you know how to do things, Iâll tell you. Before the
seeds of my grain shon reach Yunzhou Citv. theyâve all been decided by those
big families to be divided up. How can it be your turn? I advise you to buy the Tian familyâs seeds to plant. Although itâs not worth it this season, you can keep the seeds yourself next season!â
These dogs. His Madam gave up 10% of the profits she deserved to benefit the poor people. Now, they had become tools for these aristocratic families to accumulate wealth. He wondered how many other places accommodate such a phenomenon.
Ruyi looked disappointed. âThank you for your guidance, Brother. Even if I want to plant it, I have to wait until next year.â
âThatâs right! If you buy it in your village next year, youâll only suffer a loss for a season at most!â
Ruyi came out of the grain shop and went to the government office to find Zhou Jia to report to him the news he had heard. âMaster, do you think the shopkeeper of the Fenggu grain shop is colluding with the big families or is there another reason?â
Zhou Jia thought for a moment and said, âItâs easy if the shopkeeper colluded with them. Iâm afraid a shopkeeper like Chu Feng is also involved. Go back and tell Madam what you found. Iâll ask Chu Feng out to find out.â
âYes, Master. Iâll go back first.â
Ruyi came out of Zhou Jiaâs escort room and picked up Liu Hanming in front of the government office. When they arrived at the manor, Ruyi brought Liu Hanmin to the courtyard. âMr. Liu, we have engaged you and Mr. Lu in the manor. Mr. Lu was invited back by Master to teach Young Master and my son Seven Pounds. The two rooms in the west wing are where you teach your students. Your room is next to Mr. Luâs. The room at the corner is the bathroom. Iâll bring you to your room first and put down your luggage.â
âOkay.â Liu Hanmin followed Ruyi into the courtyard and saw tables and stools neatly placed in the spacious classroom. In a slightly smaller classroom, the gentle and elegant Mr. Lu was teaching the two children. Liu Hanming followed Ruyi to the room and saw that it was clean. There was a long square table and two chairs by the window. Behind the table and chairs was a screen embroidered with bamboo branches. Behind the screen was a bed and a tall cabinet, a small square table, and a chair. The mosquito net on the bed had also been hung.
Liu Hanmin felt that the room was too thoughtful. He cupped his hands gratefully and said, âThank you, Chief Manager. Please thank Sir and Madam on my behalf.â
Ruyi smiled and cupped her hands in return. âMr. Liu, youâre too polite. Pack your luggage first. Weâll start eating later. â
Liu Hanmin watched Ruyi stride to the backyard and turn around to enter the house to pack.
Ruyi went to the backyard and saw Li Yu and Xiaoyu sitting at the entrance of the hall. He went forward and told Li Yu the news of the Fenggu Food Bank and Zhou Jiaâs words. When Li Yu heard this, she shook her head and sighed. âThese families are greedy. Weâll discuss the rest after Master and Chu Feng gather. â
âYes, Madam. Mr. Liu has already been brought here. The matter of letting the children in the village come to school hasnât been publicized yet. Also, itâs inevitable that it will be noisy when the children in the village come to school in the future. We should let someone guard the second door. What do you think?â
âAlright, just arrange for someone to guard the second door. Old Zou and the others have checked the corn in the field and realized that more than a hundred stalks have been stolen. Ah Wei went to the neighboring village to ask for information. Go and see as Iâm afraid heâll get into trouble. Iâll start recruiting those children from the village when I draw up a regulation.â âYes.â Ruyi bowed and left.
âMadam, I donât know whatâs going on, but Iâm especially hungry when Iâm pregnant with this child. Iâm also hungry for food. This child might be a greedy cat when heâs born.â Xiaoyu smiled and pushed herself up from the chair..
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